388 f>erbaceous plants. 



crested varieties of this species. It is fine for massing in 

 woods and shrubberies or in a shady corner of the rockery. 

 Thrives best in rich soil. 



Shield-Fern, Aspidium. Many of the shield-ferns re- 

 semble the spleenworts in form and habit. The hard 

 shield-fern (A. aculatum) is a very beautiful, erect-growing 

 species with ovate-lanceolate pinnate leaves several feet 

 long including the stalk ; pinnae deeply cut or pinnatifid. 

 Very hardy ; fine for a rockery. The soft shield-fern (A. 

 angulare) is an equally beautiful kind, with pinnate fronds 

 of a softer texture. There are many varieties, some with 

 crested fronds. A. acrostichoides is an evergreen species 

 common in rocky woods. The leaves are pinnate, dark 

 green, spreading, one or two feet long, forming low masses 

 of foliage among stones and tree-roots. Beautiful for plant- 

 ing as an undergrowth in shrubberies. 



Male-Fern, Nephrodium Filix-mas, resembles the lady- 

 fern in habit, but has less finely divided leaves. Of this 

 also there are many varieties. 



Ostrich Fern, Onoclea Germanica. Habit very regular, 

 erect ; fronds pinnate, broadly lanceolate, two or three feet 

 high, of a tender green color in spring and early summer. 

 A beautiful fern for half-shady positions in rich woods or 

 shrubberies. The sensitive fern ((9. sensibilis) is a very 

 common species growing in moist open ground and spread- 

 ing as a weed in moist pastures. 



Dicksonia, DicJcsonia pimctilobula. A very handsome 

 fern with twice-pinnate leaves and finely cut leaflets. 

 Height, one or two feet. Common by the side of woodland 

 streams ; very ornamental for a rnoist place in a rockery. 



